How we work.

TURN A CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT PROGRESSIVE

In one study, for instance, liberal
and conservative subjects were asked whether government
health care should be extended to a hypothetical group
of AIDS victims who were responsible for their own fates
(they'd contracted the disease while knowing the risks,
and having unprotected sex anyway). Liberals who were
not under load not distracted wanted to help such
people, despite the fact that they were personally
responsible for their plight. But liberals under load
were much more like conservatives, appearing to reason
that this group of AIDS victims had gotten what they
deserved. (Cognitive load did not appear to change the
view of conservatives in the study.)

Drunkenness.
Alcohol intoxication is not unlike cognitive load, in
that it cuts down the capacity for in-depth, nuanced
thinking, and privileges economical, quick responses.
Sure enough, in a recent study of 85 bar patrons, blood
alcohol content was related to increased political
conservatism for liberals and conservatives alike.

The drinkers still knew whether they
were liberal or conservative, of course. But when asked
how much they agreed with a variety of statements of
political principles like, "Production and trade should
be free of government interference: higher blood alcohol
content was associated with giving more conservative
answers.